This is the first bicycle frame I built – the frame that started me on the long road of frame-building. It was built under the tutelage and watchful eye of Paul Wyganowski during the winter of 2001-2002. It was finished in June of 2002, but didn’t come back from paint until March of 2003.
Background
During 1980, on a mild March afternoon, my brother went to pick up his new bicycle frame, with me in tow. The frame was custom-made by Terry Osell, a Minnesota frame builder. Terry learned his craft from Cecil Behringer in the early 1970s. It was a memorable outing. My brother left Terry’s garage with his new frame, and I left with my brother and a new dream: to build my own bicycle frames.
Twenty-one years later, I visited Terry in his northeast Minneapolis bicycle shop to ask him to teach me how to build frames. He was no longer teaching, and very affably declined. But, he directed me to his shop helper, Paul Wyganowski, who was willing to teach me. Paul was a student of Tim Paterek, who was a student of Terry’s and the author of The Paterek Manual for Bicycle Framebuilders.
Nine Months Later…
Over the course of nine months I constructed this little frame (46cm equivalent) from Columbus SL tubing, the fork blades were Tange Prestige. Except the top tube at the head tube and initial tacking of the seat tube to the bottom bracket shell, the brazing was done by me. The exceptions were done by Paul to demonstrate construction processes and heat control for fillet-brazing with bronze. All of the finishing work, including the polished stainless steel, was done by me. This frame is still the baseline by which I measure my own work today.
The main tubes and chain stays were fillet-brazed using bronze filler. The seat stays, fork, and all braze-ons were assembled using 56% silver filler. The wheels were handbuilt by Colorado Cyclist. I built up the bicycle as a gift to the owner in 2003.
This bicycle was shown at the North American Handmade Bicycle shows in 2006 and 2011. Domínguez Cycles was awarded “Best Fillet-Brazed” at the 2011 North American Handmade Bicycle Show for this frame:
It turned out well for my first effort.
Wishing the owner all the best and many happy miles on it!
Postscript
Do you need or want a beautiful custom bicycle or replica? Do you have a treasured bicycle that needs repair, alteration, renovation, or restoration? Well, you can contact this smiling frame builder to do the work well and with great care.